asked the Minister for Health if the sweetener substance known and advertised as Nutrasweet is being used in the food industry in this country; if so, the name(s) of the person(s) who were responsible for recommending or clearing the substance for use in drinks or foodstuffs; and if he has any reports of serious side-effects from the consumption of Nutrasweet, either here or in other countries.
Written Answers. - Sweetener Substance.
121.
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener which is marketed under the brand name "Nutrasweet" in Europe and North America. Aspartame is approved in over 50 countries worldwide including Britain and the USA.
The product has been examined by the EEC Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) and by the joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). These Committees have advised on the basis of scientific data available, including the scientific information on side effects, that the use of Aspartame in food can be considered acceptable from a health point of view. Both committees allocated an acceptable daily intake to the substance of 0 to 40mg/kg of body weight.
The committees also considered the effects of phenylalanine contribution, following consumption of Aspartame, on people suffering from Phenylketonuria (PKU). The blood levels of phenylalanine in these individuals were raised only slightly and none of them showed any neurological or other clinical abnormal findings, thus supporting the view that large intakes of aspartame in the diet would not cause any untoward effects in these people. The committee also felt that foetal effects from excessive aspartame consumption by pregnant women, heterozygous for PKU were not likely in view of the available data on phenylalanine levels in maternal blood.
My Department has forwarded these scientific conclusions to the Irish food industry and these are used as guidelines by the industry. The Department, in line with the scientific conclusions, asked the industry to name Aspartame in lists of ingredients on food labels, because of the possibility that it may cause the problems mentioned to sufferers from Phenylketonuria. From the 1st of July, 1988, under the European Communities (Labelling, Presentation and Advertising of Foodstuffs) (Amendment) Regulations, 1987, all artificial sweeteners will have to be identified by their specific name, or their E number where appropriate, in the list of ingredients and the labelling of foodstuffs.